Advertisement
Advertisement
phenylketonuria
[ fen-l-kee-toh-noor-ee-uh, -nyoor-, feen- ]
noun
, Pathology.
- an inherited disease due to faulty metabolism of phenylalanine, characterized by phenyl ketones in the urine and usually first noted by signs of intellectual disability in infancy.
phenylketonuria
/ ˌfiːnaɪlˌkiːtəˈnjʊərɪə /
noun
- a congenital metabolic disorder characterized by the abnormal accumulation of phenylalanine in the body fluids, resulting in various degrees of mental deficiency
phenylketonuria
/ fĕn′əl-kēt′n-r′ē-ə,fē′nəl- /
- A genetic disorder in which the body lacks an enzyme necessary to metabolize phenylalanine to tyrosine. If untreated, the disorder can cause brain damage and progressive mental retardation as a result of the accumulation of phenylalanine and its breakdown products.
phenylketonuria
- A hereditary disease that prevents the proper metabolism of phenylalanine, an amino acid . When phenylalanine is not metabolized properly, poisonous substances can build up in the body, causing brain damage and mental retardation. The effects of PKU can be controlled by a special diet.
Discover More
Notes
States commonly require newborns to be tested for PKU.
Discover More
Other Words From
- phen·yl·ke·to·nu·ric adjective
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of phenylketonuria1
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of phenylketonuria1
C20: New Latin; see phenyl , ketone , -uria
Advertisement
Word of the Day
[pet-ri-kawr]
Meaning and examplesStart each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!
By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse